How to Make Rose Water

Create a gentle, fragrant rose water.

With its sweet and deep aroma, and pleasant but unusual taste, rose water is used for many purposes, including cosmetics, skin care, aromatherapy and cooking. It makes a gentle astringent and can be used as a toner on even the most sensitive to dry skin. In ancient Rome, it was used to wash hands and gently scent rooms. It is a popular ingredient in Middle eastern and Asian gourmet cuisine and meat can be infused or cooked in it.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup distilled water
• 1/2 cup fresh rose petals
• Small strainer or sieve
• Clean, sterile bottle

1. Fill a small saucepan with about 1 cup of distilled water and 1/2 cup of fresh, fragrant rose petals. Avoid using roses that have been treated with pesticides.

2. Heat the water and rose petals gently, without boiling, for about an hour.

3. Let the rose water cool and then strain out the rose petals.

4. Pour your homemade rose water into a glass bottle or jar. Use the rose water within a week or so to prevent bacterial growth. Store it in the refrigerator.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in fridge.

• Use as skin toner

• Add to creams

• Use for aromatherapy

• Add to bath

• In ancient Rome, it was used to wash hands because of it's anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties.

• Meat can be cooked and infused in it.

• Ingredient in Middle eastern and Asian gourmet cuisine

• Don't over boil the petals or it will loose the rose smell.

References

• "Ultimate Crafts Recipe Collection: A Collection of 408 Exotic Gift Recipes"; Augustus Forrest; 2008